15U: Team USA Named Co-Champions of Pan Am Championship

August 20, 2017

CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA - The gold-medal game between the 15U National Team and the Dominican Republic was canceled due to rain after three-and-a-half innings of play on Saturday evening in the COPABE Pan Am "AA" Championships in Cartagena, Colombia.

With the championship game going unfinished, the United States was named co-champions of the tournament, marking the third-straight time that the 15U team has been on top at the end - winning gold over Colombia in 2015 and over Cuba in 2013.

"I really can't express how proud I am of each and every one of these 20 players," manager Rob Shabansky said. "From the very first day of Trials, they were an impressive group of athletes and people and remained so until the very last moment."

Shabansky continued, "Obviously, I'm disappointed that we weren't able to finish the gold medal game but the performance and hard work that this dedicated group of young men put in every day and in every game showed who we are as a team. The memories and experiences we all had as a team will live long after today and I am grateful to them for that. We all became brothers at the end of it all."

Finishing with a 7-1 overall record and as the No. 1 seed, the U.S. qualifies for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2018.

Dylan Crews (Longwood, Fla.) also finished 5-for-6 in his time at the plate, finishing with four RBIs and two doubles.

On the mound, Nelson Berkwich (Boca Raton, Fla.) led all starters with a 0.68 ERA, allowing just seven hits, one run, one walk and a team-best 15 strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work. Rawley Hector (Van Alstyne, Texas) also finished with a sub-1.00 ERA, allowing one earned run, five hits and striking out six in 11.0 innings for a 0.82 ERA.

2018 USA Baseball Award Winners Announced

Collegiate National Team member Adley Rutschman named Richard W. "Dick" Case Award winner

January 11, 2019

DURHAM, N.C. - USA Baseball announced the recipients of its annual organizational awards on Friday, recognizing the top athletes, coaches and performances from the 2018 USA Baseball national teams. Collegiate National Team member Adley Rutschman (Sherwood, Ore.) was named the Richard W. "Dick" Case Award winner, becoming the 12th Collegiate National Team member to earn athlete of the year honors. The award is given annually to USA Baseball's top player in honor of the organization's founding Executive Director and CEO.

Collegiate National Team manager Paul Mainieri earned the program's second award of the year when he was named the Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year. USA Baseball also recognized the 15U National Team with two awards in 2018, including Team of the Year and naming Manager Jason Maxwell the Developmental Coach of the Year after the team won its first-ever world championship at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup.

18U National Team member Bobby Witt Jr. (Colleyville, Texas) was honored with the International Performance of the Year Award for his strong showing in the COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championships gold medal game, while Women's National Team member Megan Baltzell (Stafford, Va.) took home the Sportswoman of the Year Award following an exceptional performance in the 2018 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's Baseball World Cup.

Lastly, Karsten Whitson was named the Volunteer Coach of the Year after serving as a pitching coach at the 2018 14U National Team Development Program.

"We are excited to celebrate the people and performances that made 2018 another outstanding year for USA Baseball," USA Baseball Executive Director and CEO Paul Seiler said. "It is an honor to be represented by coaches, athletes and staff that are such exceptional global ambassadors for our country and the game of baseball on the international stage. We are extremely proud to recognize their 2018 accomplishments with these awards."

USA Baseball continued its incredible success against international competition in 2018, finishing the year with gold medals at the COPABE U-12 Pan-American Championships, WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup and the COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championships. After winning the WBSC U-15 World Cup, Team USA is now the defending world champions for all three youth age levels. The Collegiate National Team also built on its 2017 success when it once again won all three of its international friendship series against Chinese Taipei, Japan and Cuba in 2018

Rutschman was awarded the Richard W. "Dick" Case Award following a strong summer showing for the Collegiate National Team. He joined Team USA after winning the 2018 NCAA College World Series with Oregon State and was immediately a leader both on and off the field. He paced the team in batting average (.355), slugging percentage (.516) and on-base percentage (.432), and also finished the summer leading the squad in doubles with five in nine games.

In addition, Rutschman personified the off-field qualities that the Richard W. "Dick" Case Award honors. The catcher was the quintessential teammate and an undisputed leader in the clubhouse while also exemplifying sportsmanship and love of the game throughout the summer.

Mainieri was named the Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year after leading the Collegiate National Team to series wins over Chinese Taipei, Japan and Cuba for the second year in a row. Under his guidance, Team USA started its summer undefeated against international competition with a five-game sweep of Chinese Taipei and finished with a 11-3 record. The series win against Cuba marked its fourth in a row in the annual series and was just the second time in Collegiate National Team history that Team USA has claimed a series win on Cuban soil.

USA Baseball's Team of the Year award was given to the 15U National Team after it won its first-ever world championship with a 7-1 gold medal-game victory over Panama at the 2018 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. The team finished the tournament with an 8-1 record, a .323 batting average, 69 RBI, 17 doubles, five triples and three home runs while outscoring opponents 88-13 en route to the gold medal. In addition, the pitching staff tallied a collective team ERA of 1.24 over 58.0 innings and four players were named to the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup All-World Team. Maxwell's tutelage, leadership and guidance of the squad as this year's manager led to him being named the 2018 Developmental Coach of the Year.

"Jason Maxwell has been an asset to USA Baseball for many years and he brought an impressive amount of leadership and expertise to the 2018 15U National Team," Seiler said. "His ability to develop and guide these young players to new heights was evident and the team's journey to the program's first world championship was impressive to watch. We couldn't be happier to honor him and this year's team with these awards."

Witt Jr. earned the 2018 International Performance of the Year Award after hitting for a natural cycle in the COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championships gold medal game. The Colleyville, Texas, native hit a single in the second, an RBI-double in the third, a lead-off triple in the fourth and completed the cycle with a two-run home run in the fifth to lead the red, white and blue's offense in the 17-2 defeat of Panama. Following the game, Witt Jr. was named the tournament MVP and also picked up the best slugger and highest batting average awards after hitting .576 with three doubles, three triples, three home runs and 18 RBI in nine games.

Two-time Women's National Team alum Baltzell was named Sportswoman of the Year after hitting a team-high .500 in the 2018 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup and leading the tournament in home runs with two. The lefty now owns the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup home run record after hitting one in the 2016 World Cup and two in 2018. In addition to being named to the All-World Team following the event's conclusion, Baltzell also won two individual awards for her stellar 2018 performance, taking home the hardware for most home runs (2) and most RBI (10).

Lastly, Karsten Whitson, who won a gold medal as a player on the 2009 18U National Team, was named the 2018 Volunteer Coach of the Year after serving as a pitching coach for the 14U National Team Development Program's Stars team. The pitching staff thrived under Whitson, combining for 16 strikeouts in the three-game series. Six of those pitchers were invited to the 15U National Team Trials and one - Karson Bowen - was named to the 2018 15U National Team.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) annually honors one Sportsman, Sportswoman and Team of the Year based on nominations from its National Governing Bodies, as well as Developmental and Volunteer Coach of the Year awards. USA Baseball's award winners serve as the organization's nominees in their respective categories with the USOC.

USA Baseball Announces 2018 National Team Identification Series Selections

A total of 68 athletes were selected for 2019 national team programming from the 2018 NTIS

September 10, 2018

DURHAM, N.C. - USA Baseball announced on Wednesday the 68 athletes that were selected from the 2018 National Team Identification Series (NTIS) to participate in 2019 national team programming. The tenth-annual NTIS was held at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, from August 8-26 and for the tenth year in a row, the selection announcement was made through an online show.

Twenty-seven states and 16 regions from across the U.S. are represented by the 68 athletes chosen and fourteen states boast more than one selection.

Under the direction of USA Baseball task force, the 2018 NTIS featured over 1,200 of the nation's best players competing in 172 games, as well as skill testing and on-field evaluations. Twelve athletes were invited to compete at each of the 2019 12U National Team Trials, the 2019 14U, 16U and 17U National Team Development Programs (NTDP) and the 15U National Team Trials. In addition, eight players from the 17U NTIS were chosen to participate in the 2019 18U National Team selection process.

"Our task force had a difficult job selecting just 68 athletes out of the incredible pool of talent from across the U.S. that participated in this year's NTIS," Senior Director of Baseball Operations, Ashley Bratcher, said. "We are excited about the players chosen from the 2018 event and what they will bring to our 2019 national team programming."

The 2018 USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) is the most comprehensive player identification program offered by Team USA. With tryouts in every region of the country, players now have greater access to USA Baseball National Team opportunities than ever before. The program includes six separate age groups - 11U, 13U, 14U, 15U, 15U and 17U.

The 2018 National Team Identification Series selections are as follows:

15U National Team Crowned World Champions

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA - Team USA claimed its first 15U World Cup Championship Sunday, downing host country Panama 7-1 in front of a sold-out crowd in the final game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup at Estadio Kenny Serracin in David.

"This is an unbelievable, indescribable feeling to bring home the gold with this super-talented group," said manager Jason Maxwell. "Sometimes talent doesn't always win, but they all bought into the idea that hard work does. This feeling is something that I'll never forget.

I can't say enough about the hard work our staff put in. Manny Crespo, Troy Gerlach, and Adam Moseley are tremendous people. When I was announced as manager of this team, I felt like I had to put together a good baseball quality staff, but also good men, and that comes first. I am so appreciative of all their time and effort- all the countless hours they put in that people don't see- and everyone got rewarded tonight. I keep saying this, but it really is an indescribable feeling."

USA needed just three hits to secure the victory, taking advantage of three Panamanian errors. First baseman Brady House (Winder, Ga.), right fielder Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.), and center fielder Tyree Reed (Vallejo, Calif.) recorded the hits.

Starting pitcher Andrew Painter (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) was solid through five and a third frames, striking out five.

The Stars and Stripes ignited early, taking advantage of back-to-back walks to Diaz and Schrier to lead off the frame, and then House pushed a ball through the right side to bring Diaz home. After Luke Leto was hit-by-pitch to load the bases, two straight Panamanian misplays cleared the bases, giving USA a 4-0 start. Hartle then came home on another single through the right side, this one courtesy of Clifford, and left fielder Ryan Spikes (Covington, Ga.), who reached on a fielder's choice, crossed home on a fielder's choice from catcher Charlie Saum (Ventura, Calif.).

Panama broke the shutout in the fourth, scoring after a leadoff double and groundout. USA quickly put the lead back to six, after right fielder Tyree Reed (Vallejo, Calif.) doubled to the right center gap, stole third, and came home on a fielder's choice from House.

Panama continued to threaten, leaving runners on in each of the final three frames.

Several USA players took home additional hardware, including shortstop Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.), who was named the World Cup Most Valuable Player and also took home the award for most runs and the batting title.

Come-From-Behind Win Propels USA into World Championship

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA - Team USA propelled itself into the gold medal game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup Saturday, pulling off a thrilling come-from-behind 8-2 victory over Japan at Estadio Kenny Serracin in David.

Utility man Ryan Spikes (Covington, Ga.) sparked the offense, collecting two doubles and driving in the equalizer and go-ahead run in the fourth inning. Shortstop Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) blasted his second homer in as many games, while infielder Brady House (Winder, Ga.) drove in three with a double down the left field line.

Reliever Sam Dutton (Rainbow City, Ala.) picked up the victory, tossing three nearly flawless frames, allowing no hits and just one walk while striking out two and facing just one batter over his minimum.

The game started grim for USA, after a leadoff hit-by-pitch and three walks brought home a runner for Japan, and they then added another off a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Japan clung to the narrow lead until the bottom of that frame, where Schrier smacked his second long ball, and the first hit for USA on the day, in nearly the exact same spot over the left field wall. After House was beaned and infielder Luke Leto (Portage, Mich.) reached on a blooper to right field, Spikes found the perfect gap, sending the ball sailing to the left center fence to bring them both home and hand the Stars and Stripes their first lead of the day at 3-2.

Second baseman Davis Diaz (Pittsburg, Calif.) provided insurance, doubling to right field in the fifth and coming home on a bases-loaded wild pitch.

The squad added cushion in the sixth, when right fielder Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.) scored via a bases-loaded walk before House cleared them with a double sliced down the left field line to put USA on top 8-2.

USA will likely take on host country Panama in a rematch, slated for a 7:00 pm ET Sunday night showdown under the lights.

Hartle Hurls USA To 10-0 Shutout Over Cuba

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA- Team USA made it one step closer to medal contention, picking up its fourth shutout of the tournament by downing Chitre-pool top seed Cuba 10-0 Friday in the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup, held at Estadio Kenny Serracin in David.

Infielder Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) led the charge for the red, white, and blue, posting a triple and a homer and scoring three times. First baseman Brady House (Winder, Ga.) continued his dominance, turning in a 3-for-4 day with two runs and two RBI. Starting pitcher Josh Hartle (King, N.C.) held the Cuban offense that entered Super Round play with the top amongst the field, to just two hits through five innings, striking out three. Hartle also tripled, driving in three. Second baseman Davis Diaz (Pittsburg, Calif.) also scored twice while centerfielder Tyree Reed (Vallejo, Calif.) recorded two hits.

Relievers Sam Dutton (Rainbow City, Ala.) and TR Williams (Shenandoah, Va.) each worked a scoreless/hitless inning from the bullpen.

Schrier started things right away for USA, taking the second pitch of his at bat and blasting a long ball over the left field wall.

Cuba threatened with a pair of base runners in two separate frames, but the Stars and Stripes put up a five-spot in the third to add some cushion. Reed doubled to left center and after moving over on an infield single from Diaz, scored on a wild pitch.

Schrier walked and moved to third on an infield to third on single up the middle from House that scored Diaz, and after infielder Luke Leto (Portage, Mich.) reached on a fielder's choice turned error, all three came home courtesy of a massive in-the-gap triple from Hartle in right center.

USA added insurance in the fifth, again courtesy of Schrier, who tripled home Diaz who was hit-by-pitch. House then dropped a ball into shallow center to bring home Schrier.

The squad finalized the victory in the final frame, after a sacrifice fly from utility man Ryan Spikes (Covington, Ga.) brought in infielder Justin Colon, who laced a pinch-hit single through the left side to lead off the inning. A bases loaded walk to catcher Charlie Saum (Ventura, Calif.) brought home House, who singled again, for the final run.

USA will return to action again at 3:00 p.m. ET Saturday, taking on Chitre-pool second seed Japan.

Leto Leads USA to First Super Round Win

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA - Led by utility player Luke Leto (Portage, Mich.), Team USA was victorious in its first game of Super Round play of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup, held at Estadio Kenny Serracin in David.

Leto was a perfect 3-for-3, scoring four times and driving in two. Shortstop Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) added three runs, and second baseman Davis Diaz (Pittsburg, Calif.) registered two hits with a pair of runs.

The Dominican jumped on USA early, taking advantage of back-to-back misplays to score three runs. The stars and stripes cut the lead in the bottom of the second, after Leto led off with an infield single to the shortstop and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from catcher Charlie Saum (Ventura, Calif.).

DR took the run back in the third using a pair of hits, before USA exploded with five runs in the third to take control of the contest.

After a walk to Schrier, a double from infielder Brady House (Winder, Ga.) moved him to third. A free pass to Leto loaded the bases, and then a second straight walk, this one to designated hitter Josh Hartle (King, N.C.), cut the deficit to two. House and Leto both came home courtesy of a laser to left field from utility man Ryan Spikes (Covington, Ga.) and tied the contest. The good guys then took the lead on a long single to right field from right fielder Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.) that brought home both Hartle and Spikes and put USA up 6-4.

The squad added cushion the following frame, plating three runs courtesy of a Diaz (Pittsburg, Calif.) single, took second on a throwing error, and moved to third on a balk. He scored, again courtesy of House, and then a double from Leto brought home Schrier, who walked, and Leto later scored on a wild pitch.

DR kept things interesting, using a pair of walks and singles combatted with a double to bring home two runs and cut the lead to 9-6, before a bases-loaded strikeout from reliever Gage Ziehl (Penfield, N.Y.) put out the threat.

USA added some cushion, as centerfielder Tyree Reed (Vallejo, Calif.), who walked, came home on a Diaz double, Diaz scored on a wild pitch, Schrier on Leto's triple, and Leto on a passed ball.

Dominican threatened again, scoring in the seventh and leaving two men on before Leto came in to close out the victory.

USA Advances to Supers with 8-0 Win Wednesday

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA - Team USA advanced to the Super Round of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup after defeating Brazil 8-0 Wednesday, in a continuation from Monday's rainout at Estadio Kenny Serracin.

Tuesday night's hero Brady House (Winder, Ga.) had another big day, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Shortstop Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) scored three times with a pair of hits and three stolen bases. Outfielder Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.) recorded two hits and designated hitter Luke Leto (Portage, Mich.) also drove in two.

Starter Andrew Painter (Pompano Beach, Fla.) was strong, striking out eight in 4.1 innings while surrendering just one walk.

USA came out ignited, plating four runs in the first inning Monday. After back-to-back hit-by-pitches to Schrier and House, each advanced on a passed ball. A groundout down to second from Leto brought Schrier home and got USA on the board. House then scored on a single that dropped into left field from first baseman Josh Hartle (King, N.C.), and a single up the middle from Clifford scored both Tommy DiLandri (Las Vegas) (who boarded after also being beaned) and Hartle to give the stars and stripes some cushion.

The squad continued to pressure Wednesday, scoring again in the fourth. After Schrier singled to left field, he swiped two bags and came home on a single to right center from House. USA then added three in the sixth, with second baseman Davis Diaz (Pittsburg, Calif.) coming home, again courtesy of Brady House and back-to-back sacrifice flies from Leto and DiLandri.

The Stars and Stripes will face Cuba, Japan, and Dominican Republic, who all advanced from the Chitre pool, in crossover games beginning Thursday in David.

House Plays Hero in 4-1 Victory Over Panama

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA - Team USA moved back into the win column Tuesday night, taking down host country Panama 4-1 in the opening round of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup at Estadio Kenny Seracin in David.

Infielder Brady House (Winder, Ga.) delivered a dynamic performance, blasting the squad's first round tripper of the tournament and earning a save with the final out in the seventh. House registered two hits, while shortstop Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) drove in two.

Starter Cale Lansville (Denver, Colo.) was dominant through five and a third, allowing just two hits while striking out two facing just one batter over his minimum. Reliever Gage Ziehl (Penfield, N.Y.) also fanned two across 1.1 innings of work.

The stars and stripes took an early lead thanks to House's first-pitch moonshot that bounced on the roof of the parking garage behind left field. In the second, after a walk to right fielder Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.) and a hit-by-pitch to center fielder Tyree Reed (Vallejo, Calif.) put two on, Schrier ripped the ball to right center, bringing them both home and adding cushion for USA.

Panama broke the potential shutout in the fourth, picking up their first hit of the contest with a leadoff single and then scoring on a double to center field.

They threatened again in the seventh after back-to-back walks after three straight walks loaded the bases with two outs before House induced a grounder down to third base to get the fielder's choice force out and save the contest.

USA returns to action at 10:00 a.m. ET for the resumption of their contest with Brazil. Play will resume exactly as it was left Monday, with two runners on and 4-0 lead for USA in the first.

USA-Brazil Postponed to Wednesday

August 13, 2018

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA -- Team USA's contest with Brazil was halted in the first inning Monday afternoon at Estadio Kenny Seracin due to inclement weather. The contest was the fourth of the opening round of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 World Cup for USA.

The stars and stripes currently lead 4-0 with two men on and two outs in the bottom of the first, and play will resume with that very situation on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. ET. USA currently sits at 2-1 in the World Cup, and will face undefeated Panama on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET.

For updates and schedule changes, follow the @USABaseball15U Twitter account.

15U National Team Suffers 2-1 Setback Sunday

CHIRIQUI, PANAMA - Team USA (2-1) suffered its first setback of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup, dropping a tight 2-1 affair to Chinese Taipei (3-0) Sunday at Estadio Kenny Seracin in the province of David, Panama.

The stars and stripes were held to just six hits, with shortstop Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) as the only multi-hit performer of the day. Infielder Luke Leto (Portage, Mich.) plated the then-tying run.

The contest was a pitcher's duel through four and a half frames, until Taipei broke the blank, using a leadoff double, a wild pitch, and a right side single.

The lead was short lived, as USA tied things up the following inning. Leto led off with a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line, stole second, and moved to third on another bunt, this one by outfielder Tommy DiLandri (Las Vegas). Leto plated the equalizer on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.), and USA continued to threaten, leaving two men on in the frame.

Chinese Taipei wasted no time responding, taking advantage of a bases-loaded walk to plate the eventual game winner in the sixth.